Cricket: Six years for Ntini

MAKHAYA NTINI, the South African fast bowler, has been jailed for six years after being convicted of rape.

The sentence effectively ends the career of the 21-year-old who last year became the first black player to turn out for a South African Test side.

Before the trial, Ntini had been the only black player named in the South African team competing in the World Cup, but was dropped upon his conviction in April.

A 22-year-old domestic servant had testified that the bowler had raped her in a toilet at East London's Buffalo Park ground after giving her a lift in his car.

Ntini made his debut for Border against England in their 1995-96 tour, and was later selected for the South African A team. His great opportunity came when he replaced the injured Roger Telemachus on South Africa's tour of Australia in 1997-98.